A GWENT man says he is devastated after he was the victim of an unprovoked and vicious gang attack.

Alan Hughes, 58, from Oakfield in Cwmbran, was left with a fractured eye socket and severe bruising all over his body after five young men kicked and punched him just yards from his daughter's home in the early hours of Sunday.

Mr Hughes is now struggling to cope with the mental scars the attack has left on him. But he says the community must stand up to the thugs before they end up killing somebody.

"I feel traumatised. When you have been subjected to violence like that you feel like you have been violated.

"I just don't understand why they did it. None of these people even know me. They were just out to dispatch violence and if they are not stopped then it will end in somebody's death," he said.

Mr Hughes, who works at Wilkinsons in Magor, was walking to the home of his daughter, Tania, at around 2am on Sunday after an evening at a friend's house nearby. He said he was approached by a young man on Green Willows, who started verbally abusing and threatening him with violence.

Mr Hughes said the young man then threatened to "get his friends" before making a call on his mobile phone. Four other youths "appeared from nowhere" and the gang began punching, kicking and stamping on Mr Hughes.

He managed to scramble to his daughter's front door on Abbey Green, but the attack continued as his daughter phoned police and screamed for help.

Tania Carrington, 35, said: "My father is one of the most gentle and well-respected people in this community. He would not hurt anyone. "He keeps crying and is fearful of going out. I'm 35 and I've never seen my dad cry before."

Mrs Carrington is offering a £500 reward to anyone who comes forward with information that leads to a conviction.

DS Andy Cullen, from Cwmbran police, described the attack as "nasty and unprovoked". He confirmed police were looking for a number of young men and appealed for any witnesses to get in touch.

Mr Hughes said the attackers were aged between 18 and their early twenties.

Anyone with information should call police on 01633 838111.